The dry leaf smells very roasted, and is tightly rolled into small, dark pellets. I want to preface this note by saying that heavily roasted oolongs are generally not my thing, though I do enjoy them on occasion.
Steeped for 2:15 in 90C water. The leaves are just starting to unfurl a bit. The liquor smells roasted and nutty, almost coffee-like, and steeps up to a dark brown with purple undertones.
My first impression of my first sip was NOT GOOD. This sip I tried quite hot and I got smacked with strong roast and mineral notes. Not inherently bad, but it evoked the worst association. The first sip tasted the way outhouse chemicals smell. Dear god. When I’m drinking tea, I do not want to be transported to a well-used port-a-potty.
Fortunately, that first impression was fleeting and did not continue with subsequent sips (yes, I’m stubborn, I continued to sip a tea that made me think of outhouse.) Now that the cup has cooled, the roast and mineral are still there, but they’ve been joined by a creamy nuttiness. Added another 30 seconds of steeping, to get just a bit more flavour into my cup.
This is actually really nice – The roasted flavour doesn’t drown out everything else. If my initial impression hasn’t turned you off completely, worth trying.
Flavors: Coffee, Creamy, Mineral, Nutty, Roasted
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OMG. I am horrified that I gave you a tea that tastes like an outhouse
Oh don’t be! It ended up being good, and I sometimes have really strange associations with stuff.
I would totally drink it again. Besides, what’s good for one might be terrible for another person, so there’s just no way to know until you taste something. :)
heavily roasted oolongs are probably my least favorite tea type. Never had one make me think port a potty. lol And you kept going… that’s awesome.
OMG. I am horrified that I gave you a tea that tastes like an outhouse
Oh don’t be! It ended up being good, and I sometimes have really strange associations with stuff.
I would totally drink it again. Besides, what’s good for one might be terrible for another person, so there’s just no way to know until you taste something. :)
heavily roasted oolongs are probably my least favorite tea type. Never had one make me think port a potty. lol And you kept going… that’s awesome.